Part # 12
Final Exams ..!
"Goodnight!", Riddhima greeted Armaan smilingly and started walking towards her room. "Riddhima!", Armaan, who was standing near the stairs, called out to her. Riddhima turned around to face him. She could see mischievousness in those hazel eyes of her best friend oops boyfriend Armaan. What he was up to, she thought.
Armaan came close to Riddhima and pecked on her lips. "You forgot to give me goodnight kiss!", Armaan said naughtily, brought his face near to Riddhima's and closed his eyes. Riddhima blushingly smiled and kissed softly on his lips. "Goodnight!", she said shyly. Before Armaan could open his eyes and say anything to Riddhima, she rushed to her room and closed the door behind her. "Oye hoye!", Armaan dreamily said and went to his room.
***
Next morning, Riddhima was eating breakfast on the dinning table. She was ready to go to college. But where was Armaan? She wondered. DJ arrived there and asked her, "Riddhima, didn't Armaan wake up yet?" "Probably not, DJ!", Riddhima answered with a not-sure expression.
"Uff yeh Armaan bhi naa! Still he behaves like a kid.", DJ said and frowned. Riddhima stood up and putting her hands around DJ's shoulder, she said smilingly, "DJ, just relax. You start eating. I'm calling that sleeping beauty." DJ laughed and nodded.
***
With full attitude, Riddhima came in Armaan's room. Seeing him sleeping so innocently like a kid, calmness took over her. She was mesmerized by his cuteness and kept on staring him.
"Riddhima! Make it fast. You guys need to go to college in 30 minutes.", DJ shouted which brought Riddhima back in her senses. She heaved a deep breath and walked close to Armaan's bed.
"Armaan, get up!", Riddhima said to Armaan in an authoritative tone keeping her hands on her hip. "Ermm!", Armaan blabbered in his sleep. "Armaan, get up! We need to go to college!", Riddhima ordered Armaan.
"You go.. I don't wanna go!", Armaan said in his sleepy voice and pull over the blanket on his face. Riddhima got highly annoyed. She bended slightly and took off the blanket from Armaan's face.
Armaan mischievously smiled in his sleep and pulled Riddhima close to him, slipping his hands around her waist. Riddhima stared Armaan with a surprised expression. Armaan slowly opened his eyes and there, their eyes met which led into a beautiful eye-lock.
Tightening the grip on Riddhima's waist with one hand, Armaan tucked the strains of her hairs behind her ear with his other hand. They gazed each other with lovely smiles on their faces. "Looking stunning in white suit.", Armaan said to Riddhima with his eyes still focusing on her. "Thanks!", Riddhima blushed and said.
Armaan started bringing his face close to Riddhima's, and Riddhima, understanding his next intention, stopped him by covering his lips with her palm. "Doing romance all the time is injurious to health Mr. Malik, plus the door is open. So better come back to reality and get ready for college.", Riddhima said to Armaan and smiling teasingly, she stood straight by moving away his hands on her waist. Armaan stared her with dropped jaws and Riddhima, winking at him, left the room. After a while, Armaan smiled at himself and got up from the bed.
***
Once Armaan and Riddhima were done eating breakfast, they bid farewell to DJ and headed to their college together. Reaching the college, when Riddhima was going out of the car, Armaan called her, "Riddhima!"
Riddhima turned her face around and said, "Hmm!" Armaan smiled blissfully and said, "I love you!" Riddhima sweetly smiled and said, "I love you too! Now can we?" Armaan nodded and they got out of the car.
As Armaan and Riddhima were entering in the college, Riddhima noticed Nikita standing at a corner of the college gate. She rolled her eyes and fumed. "I'm sure this nautanki is waiting for Armaan!", she thought in mind and burned in anger.
Just then, something struck Riddhima's mind. She came close to Armaan and sliding her hands around his arms, she looked at Nikita with attitude. Nikita noticed that and smiled hugely which confused Riddhima a lot.
Realizing Riddhima's hands around his arms, Armaan looked at Riddhima smilingly. Nikita came to them and said in a casual way, "Hey guys!"
"Hey Niki!", Armaan said in an usual-friendly tone. "Oh hi Niki!", Riddhima moved her hands away and show offed a smile. "So finally you guys are seeing each other!", Nikita said giving an ocean-sized smile. Armaan and Riddhima stared Nikita and then at each other in shock and surprise. They were out of words.
Nikita laughingly said, "Why are you shocked? I know since long before that you both are in love with each other. But you two weren't realizing it. That's why I did all these!" "Did what?", Armaan asked confusedly. Nikita mischievously smiled and looking at Riddhima, she said, "Umm.. I did what! Good question, Armaan! But I think Riddhima knows the answer really well." Riddhima expressed as if she had understood everything and looked at Nikita in shock and amazement. Nikita winked at her and smirked.
"You mean.. Niki.. did you do what I'm thinking?", Gulping a lump, Riddhima said to Nikita in disbelief. "And what are you thinking, Riddhima?", Nikita said giving a winning smile. Armaan got highly annoyed in this girls' talk and stood in between them.
"Girls! Can any of you do the honour of explaining me the whole matter?", Armaan said staring confusedly at Riddhima and Nikita which chuckled Nikita.
"Okay Armaan! So let me start from the first. We know each other since 5 years and I was damn sure about your love for Riddhima. I mean, you used to cry for her whenever you were alone, and finally when Riddhima came back, i saw the same love in her eyes for you, and there starts my plan - the old weapon for love realization.", Nikita was telling it to Armaan and Riddhima very excitedly.
"And what was your plan?", Armaan asked and Riddhima, understanding the whole matter, lowered her eyes in embarrassment. Nikita turned around to face Armaan, grinned and said, "Jealousy!"
Armaan's jaw dropped in astonishment and Riddhima was going all red due to embarrassment. She slammed her forehead with her palm. Nikita then explained Armaan how and when she made Riddhima jealous to make her realize her love.
After all explanations and confusions were cleared, Armaan stared Riddhima and said teasingly, "I didn't know that you are so possessive for me."
Riddhima's lips curved into a shy smile and before she could speak something, the bell rang and sighing, they went to their classes.
***
After the classes were over, the gang sat in the canteen and started chatting.
"Guys! Finals are gonna start from day after tomorrow.", Atul said and frowned. Making a sad puppy face, Anjali said, "Yeah! I know right. I planned to watch a SRK movie on that day with you but..", saying that, she sighed. Atul too became sad seeing her sad. Nikita shook her head in irritation and said, "Oh god! Atul and Anjali! Stop being love birds now, and think about the finals.", saying that, lines of worry flashed on her face.
Armaan and Riddhima arrived in the scene. Riddhima was formally smiling at everyone but inside, she was in deep thought. Armaan delightfully said to the gang, "Guys! Stop panicking and study like an ideal student."
"Yeh lo! Here comes the scholar! Padhakoo kahika!", Atul said to Armaan rolling his eyes and Armaan proudly looked at everyone. "Armaan! Tumhe toh koi tension nahi hai naa. You are the ultimate scholar after all. But we?", Nikita said and heaved a deep sigh, and Anjali completed her sentence by saying, "We are the ultimate failures."
"Uff! You guys are just impossible.", Armaan said to them after being annoyed with their sighs and frowns. Turning his face towards Riddhima, he said concernedly putting his hand on her shoulder, "Riddhima!"
Riddhima came back to reality and she could reply only a "hmm". "Are you alright?", Armaan asked her lovingly. Without saying anything, Riddhima left from there and confused, Armaan followed her.
***
Riddhima came running behind the campus and sat on the grass. Armaan sat beside her and he was shocked to see her in tears. "Hey! What happened?", caring Armaan asked her cupping her face in his hands.
"Armaan, remember? Tomorrow is papa's barsi.", Riddhima told Armaan in between her sobs and hugged him tightly. Armaan enveloped her in his arms and rubbed her back to console her. "Sshh! Don't cry. Chup ho jaao.", Armaan told her softly.
Once they broke off, Armaan wiped off Riddhima's tears and kissing her forehead, he said intently looking into her eyes, "Riddhima, your dad's soul will be hurt if you cry like this. So please stop crying. At least for him!"
Riddhima nodded while sniffing and Armaan again pulled her in a warm hug.
***
Armaan and Riddhima came back home. As Riddhima's mood was kinda off, she quietly went to her room. Armaan requested DJ to keep a prayer ceremony in memory of Riddhima's dad and DJ agreed.
After the sunset, while Armaan was flipping over the pages of his book, he thought in mind firmly, "I have to lighten up Riddhima's mood anyhow.", saying that, he went to Riddhima's room.
***
Riddhima was engrossed in revising for exams. Her facial expression looked serious. Armaan saw that standing at the doorway and the next moment, he victoriously smiled when an idea struck his mind.
"Riddhima! I need ur help!", Armaan entered Riddhima's room and sat on her bed making a sad expression. "What happened?", Riddhima asked sitting beside him.
"I can't understand this problem.", Armaan said to Riddhima in a low tone indicating to a specific question in his book. Riddhima took the book from Armaan and read it thoroughly, while Armaan gazed her cutely with smiley face.
"Riddhima! I have lost something.", Armaan said almost in a whisper looking deeply at Riddhima. "What?", Riddhima asked still remaining busy reading the question. "The angelic smile of Ms. Riddhima Sharma.", Armaan said and Riddhima immediately turned her face towards Armaan in surprise. Smiling slightly, she said to Armaan hitting playfully on his arm, "Stop being filmy!"
Armaan suddenly held Riddhima's hand which made her look in his hazel eyes and get lost in them. They shared a beautiful eye-lock which broke until Armaan kissed Riddhima's hand and said affectionately, "I can't see my jhalli monkey sad like this."
Tears formed in Riddhima's eyes and she immediately hugged Armaan for feeling some peace and heavenly pleasure.
Armaan constantly caressed Riddhima's hairs to make her feel better. After they pull themselves back, Armaan informed Riddhima, "DJ has kept a prayer ceremony in memory of your dad."
Riddhima was in awe. Armaan cared for her so much. She knew it always but every time when the same fact came in her mind, a content smile arrived on her face. "Thanks a lot Armaan!", she said gratefully. Armaan softly touched her cheek and said, "The pleasure is mine."
***
Next day had passed really quickly with studying for finals and Riddhima's dad's barsi in the evening. Riddhima was sad thinking about her dad but when she remembered what Armaan had told her, that was, her dad's soul would not be in peace if she remained upset, she finally managed to be normal which surely brought huge smiles on the faces of Armaan and DJ..
***
The Day of Finals! Everyone's face depicted fear and horror but in the midst of them, there were two great students who were happily romancing in the corridor without giving a damn care about the exams, and there they were caught by their group friends.
"Since Riddhima's first day, i doubted that these guys are seeing each other.", Anjali said seriously and Atul supported her saying, "Same here!"
"By the way, who proposed first? And how? When? Tell everything.", Nikita said to Armaan and Riddhima teasingly. Riddhima's cheeks were burning due to extreme shy.
"Ohhoo! Riddhima ji is blushing.", Atul pulled Riddhima's leg. Armaan took a quick glance at Riddhima and smiled.
"Uff ho guys! Stop teasing us. I'm telling everything.", Armaan shut their mouth up and all were ready to hear him. Armaan explained the whole thing to his friends, while Riddhima kept on grinning.
"OHH MMM GEEE Nikiii! You did this! Like whoa! The girl who hated love did this! Super great haannn!", Anjali said excitedly. "Arey waah Niki! Tune toh kamaal kar diya.", Atul said and patted her back.
"Thank you thank you!", Nikita dramatically said and everyone laughed including Riddhima. After they stopped, Riddhima came near Nikita and said with guilt in her voice, "I'm so sorry Niki! I misunderstood you, and thank you so much for making me realize my love. Thank you so much!", saying that, she hugged Nikita emotionally. The rest three smiled and they all had a group hug.
The bell for exams rang and they went to their respective classes. Atul, Anjali and Nikita chanted all spiritual verses they could and prayed only one thing to Almighty, that was, to make them pass. Armaan and Riddhima exchanged sweet smiles and thumbs up signs to each other.
In the middle of the exam, Armaan turned his face towards Riddhima. Riddhima could feel that and stared back at him. Their eyes met leading into a beautiful eye-lock, while Atul, Anjali and Nikita giggled seeing their exam-hall romance. Embarrassed, Riddhima signaled Armaan to concentrate on the papers. Armaan mischievously smiled and winking at Riddhima, he focused on his papers. Riddhima laughed in amusement and kept on writing.
Precap:
Armaan and Riddhima's serious fight.. 😲
***
Hey guys .. thanks for your best wishes .. I'm absolutely fine now .. 😳 .. back to entertain you all with my updates .. 😉 .. anyways, waiting for your appreciations/criticize .. 😍
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